The Hermit: 2nd Edition

Then Iris arrived out of nowhere while Alaric was collecting wood to make bows in the cold winter air. She came riding upon a unicorn named Kalulah. She then changed the unicorn into a little girl, his daughter. They both came to the bark lodge. He showed her the new bow he had finished and wanted to try it out. Since they were present, he would like to show them both something special. He took them to the caves of Glacier Mountain where he played as a boy. A recent earthquake shook rocks down in the caves and a wall collapsed to reveal a great cavern he thought they might like to see. So, up the mountain side they walked to encounter an altar to the cave goddess Maya. Alaric lifted Kalulah upon the altar and lit a candle. He spoke loudly so Maya could hear him in the depths of the chasms. He prayed that this proof of love for another being would relieve Maya of any grudges towards Iris. He brought Kalulah down and the trio walked inside the cave. A torch to light the way ...

The next morning Alaric awoke from a wonderful dream of being a war hero. He woke up with a magical bow from the Holly King, a knife from his parents, a shell bead belt from Lixi, and a pine needle basket from Gilda. He dressed in his finest clothes and walked downstairs. He was met Ryan with a polite greeting. He notified Alaric his kin are outside in the courtyard tossing snowballs at each other. The godly guests are in the sitting room. Ryan softly questioned Alaric’s relationship with Iris and why he changed into a bear at Iris’s pregnancy announcement. Alaric explained Rurik’s spell to determine the father unmarried Iris’s child. He was changed into a bear when she was pregnant with Kalulah. “May I inquire the purpose of this interrogation into Iris’s friendships when you have no cause to intrude,” Alaric defends. “She is quite the goddess, Alaric. Loving and deceitful at the same time.” observes Ryan changing subjects. “Just like your father, Ryan.” replies Alaric. “I ...

After absorbing the decision, the two rulers, warlords, and chiefs etch their names into the clay peace treaty. Everybody signing received a copy of the treaty with the stamp of Gilda in the form of a hawk surrounded by willow twigs. Alaric flies to the Atlantis Mountains to give a copy of the decision to the great god Alano. The great god appears proud of Gilda. Alaric is amazed this palace. He receives a tour after dining at the god’s lonely table. Murals, statues, tapestries, carvings into doorways, and the stone floor appear to be built by ingenious hands. Unexpectedly, Alaric views a portrait of himself upon a bed chamber wall. He wore armor, held a gold sword, and seemed to be fighting a god. Alano predicted when he was dipped in the Pool of Immortality that he would fight beasts, gods, and humans in his future. Alano stresses upon the eager warrior about his impending fame as a hero. The time for his greatness will come to pass when he is ready. To be a great warrior, w...

“Alaric, I write of sad news concerning your niece Lanie. A rain of fire covered the Black Forest when Daxus and Gilda were away making crops grow. Goblins flew down from the sky and attacked everybody in the forest. They took Lanie. Gilda has now put me in charge of the finding in Andos’s palace before Lanie gets married to Nabu. You must help me rescue Lanie, she is only a child. Your friend, Alexis.” After reading the letter, Alaric makes a tree branch float in the air and flies to the Black Forest. His new roommate, Myra had arrived with Alexis’ son Treynor claiming her husband Modred was going to sacrifice him believing he is an elf. Even worse, after Laeos’s wife Marianna died after childbirth did she comfort Laeos too much and carrying his child now. She came looking for Alexis and Alaric took pity on her. He said she could stay until she had her baby, then had to leave because Nix was coming to live here. Myra helped out cooking food and mending his clothes. She pr...